Former Haworth cop acquitted of charge he lied during in job application

A former Haworth police officer was acquitted Friday on a charge that he lied about his employment history when applying for another job at the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department.

A jury in Superior Court in Hackensack was hung on another charge that Anthony Castronova lied on another job application to the Waldwick Police Department. The deadlock on that charge means Castronova could face another trial.

“I will fight till the end of time to completely clear my client of these ridiculous charges,” defense attorney Eric Kleiner said later. “Anthony Castronova is completely innocent of the charges.”

Castronova had been charged with two counts of false swearing, fourth-degree charges that carried up to 18 months in prison.

Natalie Candela, the assistant Bergen County prosecutor who tried the case, did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Candela told jurors during the trial that Castronova was forced to resign from the Haworth Police Department in December 2004, although she did not say why he was forced to resign. Kleiner also did not say why Castronova left the Haworth force.

Castronova later filled out an application at the Waldwick Police Department and the county Sheriff’s Department, both times leaving out information about his forced resignation.

Kleiner said that Castronova went to work for the Paterson Police Department after he left Haworth and worked as a major-crimes detective until he was laid off. During interviews for both jobs that he subsequently applied for, Castronova orally disclosed his history with the Haworth Police Department and did not have any intent to deceive or falsify records, Kleiner said.